JP2016076744A - Communication system and communication method, communication device and control method thereof, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a communication system in which information used for connection to another device is transmitted and received between a plurality of devices to improve a user's convenience when the information used for connection is transmitted and received.SOLUTION: In a communication system including a first communication device and a second communication device, the first communication device transmits a signal to request information to connect to a network to the second communication device. In response to accepting the signal from the first communication device, the second communication device determines whether there is another communication device capable of connecting to the network within a range where the second communication device can communicate; if it is determined that there is another communication device within the range, the communication system notifies the first communication device of information to connect to the other communication device. On receiving the information to connect to the other communication device from the second communication device, the first communication device connects to the other communication device and the network on the basis of the information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication setting technique in wireless communication.

  In recent years, products such as digital cameras equipped with a communication function using a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) are increasing. Thereby, for example, a digital camera can upload a photographed image to a server on the Internet by using the communication function, and share the photographed image among a plurality of users. In order to transmit data to the Internet using a wireless LAN, a camera user needs to perform an operation for connecting the camera to one of the nearby wireless LAN access points (AP). That is, the camera user needs to input connection parameters including an AP identifier or information on a security method and a password to the camera, and cause the camera to start a connection with the AP at a location where the AP can communicate with the AP. It is.

  On the other hand, mobile communication devices such as smartphones are increasingly equipped with cellular and wireless LAN, and communication functions such as Near Field Communication (NFC) and Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy (BLE). Note that NFC is a communication standard suitable for transmitting and receiving data in a short time during which a touch is made using a touch operation as a trigger. BLE is a communication standard suitable for continuing intermittent communication, for example, once per second for a long time with low power consumption.

  Here, the smartphone has a user interface suitable for character input, and it is often easier to input connection parameters in these devices than similar input using a camera. Furthermore, many smartphones have a function of automatically searching for a connectable AP using a connection parameter acquired by reading a QR code (registered trademark) or a connection parameter input in the past. There are many cases. On the other hand, it is not easy to mount the same function as a smartphone on a camera for reasons such as cost and size.

  On the other hand, if a camera having a function of receiving wireless LAN connection parameters from a smartphone by NFC is used, the user simply inputs the connection parameters to the camera by touching the smartphone and connects the camera to the wireless LAN. Can do. As such a technique, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which a connection parameter to an AP is transmitted from the terminal connected to the AP to the camera by NFC, and the camera connects to the same AP. Even if such a function is provided to the camera, the only function added to the camera is the NFC communication function, so that the influence on the cost and size of the camera is not significant.

JP 2010-245748 A

  However, in the technique such as Patent Document 1, the camera user starts connection parameter transfer by NFC while there is an AP that can be connected to the periphery and the smartphone has the connection parameter of the AP. It was necessary to perform the operation. That is, when performing a touch operation, the user needs to know that there is an AP that can be connected to the periphery, and the smartphone has a connection parameter to the AP. Convenience was impaired.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and in a communication system in which information used for connection to other devices is transmitted and received between a plurality of devices, the convenience of the user when transmitting and receiving information used for the connection is improved. It aims at providing the technology to improve.

  In order to achieve the above object, a communication system according to the present invention is a communication system including a first communication device and a second communication device, wherein the first communication device is connected to the second communication device. A communication means for transmitting a signal for requesting information for connecting to a network, and receiving information for connecting to another communication apparatus connectable to the network from the second communication apparatus, and based on the information Connecting means for connecting to the other communication device and connecting to the network via the other communication device, wherein the second communication device accepts the signal from the first communication device. A receiving unit, a determining unit that determines whether the other communication device is within a communicable range in response to receiving the signal, and a determination that the other communication device is within the communicable range Is If the information for connecting to the other communication apparatus, having, a notification unit for notifying the first communication apparatus.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, in the communication system in which the information used for the connection to another apparatus is transmitted / received between several apparatuses, the convenience of the user at the time of transmission / reception of the information used for the connection can be improved.

The figure which shows the structural example of a radio | wireless communications system. The sequence diagram which shows the flow of BLE communication. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the camera 100. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by an AP information request unit 303 of the camera 100. The block diagram which shows the function structural example of the smart phone 101. FIG. The flowchart which shows the flow of the process which AP information notification part 504 of the smart phone 101 performs. The figure which shows the example of the format of AP information transmitted from the smart phone 101. FIG. The sequence diagram which shows the example of the flow of the process which the camera 100 and the smart phone 101 perform. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating another functional configuration example of the camera 100. The figure which shows the example of the screen which AP identifier setting part 901 displays. The flowchart which shows the flow of another process which AP information notification part 504 of the smart phone 101 performs.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<< Embodiment 1 >>
(Wireless communication system)
FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a wireless communication system according to this embodiment. In this wireless communication system, for example, the camera 100 uploads captured image data to a server 103 on a network (for example, the Internet) via a wireless LAN access point (AP) 102. The camera 100 acquires the AP information necessary for connecting to the AP 102 from the smartphone 101 through wireless communication based on the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication standard. The AP information includes, for example, information indicating that the AP 102 exists in the vicinity of the smartphone 101 at the timing when the AP information is transmitted, and a connection parameter for connecting to the AP 102. The connection parameters include, for example, an AP identifier of the AP 102, information indicating the type of the security scheme of the AP 102, and password information necessary for connecting to the AP 102 using the security scheme. The AP identifier is, for example, an identifier for identifying an AP or an identifier for a wireless LAN network formed by the AP, and an SSID (Service Set Identifier) or the like can be used as the AP identifier. Based on this AP information, the camera 100 connects to the AP 102 as a wireless LAN terminal.

  In the following, the camera 100 and the smartphone 101 perform communication for establishing a wireless LAN connection between the camera 100 and the AP 102, but these are examples, and devices having other communication functions are used. May be. That is, in general, in any system in which the first communication device and the second communication device perform communication for establishing a connection between the first communication device and the third communication device, the following Discussion is applicable. Furthermore, the “third communication device” referred to here does not have to be a specific communication device, and can be any communication device that can be connected to the server 103 on the network. That is, the third communication device may be, for example, a wireless LAN access point connected to a wired network and constructing a wireless network, or a communication device that can be connected to a network for connecting to the server 103 wirelessly. It may be.

  Furthermore, in the following, a case where the camera 100 and the smartphone 101 communicate by BLE and communication between the camera 100 or the smartphone 101 and the AP 102 is performed by a wireless LAN will be described, but this is not limited at all. Absent. That is, the communication between the camera 100 or the smartphone 101 and the AP 102 may be performed by a wireless network of a method other than the wireless LAN, or the communication between the camera 100 and the smartphone 101 is performed by a method other than BLE. Also good. When a wireless LAN is used, the wireless LAN used may be, for example, a wireless LAN compliant with the IEEE 802.11 standard series, or any wireless LAN in the past, present, or future. Similarly, any other communication method in the past, present, or future may be used.

(Outline of BLE communication)
Next, a flow of BLE communication performed between the camera 100 and the smartphone 101 in the wireless communication system according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing a flow of BLE communication executed between the camera 100 and the smartphone 101.

  In this example, the camera 100 first repeatedly transmits an advertising packet periodically at a predetermined cycle. Note that the advertising packet here searches for a partner to perform BLE communication in order to acquire, for example, AP information necessary for the camera 100 to connect to another communication device (for example, the AP 102) for connecting to the network. Packet. When the smartphone 101 receives the advertising packet from the camera 100, the smartphone 101 transmits a connection request to the camera 100.

  Thereby, the connection of BLE communication is established between the camera 100 and the smartphone 101, and thereafter, the process shifts to intermittent communication in which data packets are periodically exchanged at a predetermined cycle. Note that in order to perform intermittent communication in synchronization with each other, the camera 100 needs to acquire information about the timing of starting intermittent communication and the period of intermittent communication from the smartphone 101. include. Further, the camera 100 and the smartphone 101 exchange data packets at intervals of intermittent communication even when there is no data to be transmitted to the other party. The transmission side communication device includes information indicating whether or not the data to be transmitted is included in the data packet and transmits the data packet, and the reception side communication device confirms this information and transmits the packet. Whether or not significant data is included can be identified.

  When connection to the AP 102 (connection to the network) is necessary, the camera 100 requests AP information from the smartphone 101 in the next intermittent communication data packet. Note that the AP information requested here does not need to be information on a specific AP 102, but may be information on an AP that can be connected to the network. Therefore, this AP information request can be regarded as a signal indicating that the camera 100 desires to connect to the network. That is, the data packet in this case can be regarded as a signal for notifying the camera 100 that the smartphone 101 wants to connect to the network.

  When the smartphone 101 detects that there is an AP (for example, AP 102) that can be connected to the network in the vicinity after receiving this request, the smartphone 101 transmits AP information related to the AP in the data packet in the next intermittent communication at the detected timing. To do. The “periphery” here is, for example, a range in which the smartphone 101 can communicate via a wireless LAN. As described above, this AP information includes, for example, information indicating that the AP 102 exists in the vicinity of the smartphone 101 at the timing when the AP information is transmitted, and connection parameters for connecting to the AP 102.

  Note that since the communicable range by BLE is sufficiently short, if the AP 102 exists in the vicinity of the smartphone 101, the camera 100 that is the communication partner by the BLE of the smartphone 101 is also predicted to exist in the vicinity of the AP 102. it can. For this reason, when the smartphone 101 detects the AP 102 in the vicinity thereof and notifies the camera 100 of AP information related to the AP 102, the camera 100 connects to the AP 102 and connects to the server 103 via the AP 102, for example. can do.

  Here, if the interval of intermittent communication is long, the smartphone 101 moves to a place where the user who has the smartphone 101 cannot communicate with the AP 102 by wireless LAN communication after detecting that the AP 102 exists in the vicinity. There is a possibility of moving. For this reason, the interval of intermittent communication may be set in consideration of the movement of the smartphone 101, and is set to about 1 second, for example.

  Note that the smartphone 101 has a standard function necessary to acquire an AP identifier of a nearby AP. That is, for example, the smartphone 101 has a function of acquiring an AP identifier by executing a passive scan defined in a wireless LAN standard and receiving beacons periodically transmitted from neighboring APs. Furthermore, the smartphone 101 has a user interface for the user to instruct execution of the passive scan. Note that the smartphone 101 may have a function for automatically executing a scan instead of the user interface or in addition to the user interface. Furthermore, the smartphone 101 may have a function of automatically performing a scan in a place where there is a high possibility that an AP exists using position information.

  Furthermore, the smartphone 101 has a standard function necessary for acquiring connection parameters other than the AP identifier for one of the neighboring APs. That is, for example, the smartphone 101 has a function of displaying a list of AP identifiers found by passive scanning, and a reception function of allowing a user to select one of them and receiving a user input of a security method and a password corresponding to the AP Have The reception function can be, for example, a software or hardware keyboard function, or a function that captures and analyzes a QR code or the like. In addition, the smartphone 101 may have a function for storing input contents received in the past and making the input by the user omissible thereafter.

(Camera configuration and operation)
Next, a functional configuration example of the camera 100 and a flow of processing executed by the camera 100 will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the camera 100. The camera 100 includes, for example, a wireless LAN communication unit 301, a BLE communication unit 302, an AP information request unit 303, an image storage unit 304, and an imaging unit 305. Note that functions that are not related to the present embodiment, such as a telephone call function, are not shown and will not be described.

  The wireless LAN communication unit 301 includes a standard antenna, modulation / demodulation processing function, protocol processing function, and the like necessary for wireless LAN communication. The wireless LAN communication unit 301 is connected to the AP 102 and reads, for example, image data stored in the image storage unit 304. , To AP102. Note that the image data transmitted to the AP 102 is transferred to the server 103 via, for example, a network. The BLE communication unit 302 includes a standard antenna necessary for communication by BLE, a modulation / demodulation processing function, a protocol processing function, and the like, and establishes a connection by BLE and intermittent communication with the smartphone 101 as described above.

  The AP information request unit 303 acquires AP information from the smartphone 101 using the BLE communication unit 302, and based on the AP information, determines the timing at which the wireless LAN communication unit 301 connects to the AP 102 and the connection parameters of the AP 102 via the wireless LAN. Output to the communication unit 301. The wireless LAN communication unit 301 connects to the AP 102 accordingly.

  The image storage unit 304 stores image data captured by the imaging unit 305, for example. The imaging unit 305 performs imaging based on a user operation, generates image data, and stores the image data in the image storage unit 304. Note that the image storage unit 304 can store not only one image but a plurality of image data.

  The camera 100 has at least one hardware module such as a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM (not shown in FIG. 3), for example, and executes the processing of the flowchart described below as a program stored in the ROM. May be processed by executing.

  FIG. 4 shows a flow of processing executed by the AP information request unit 303 in the camera 100 in particular. The AP information request unit 303 starts the operation with the camera power ON as a trigger. Then, the AP information request unit 303 repeatedly transmits an advertising packet at a predetermined interval using the BLE communication unit 302 (S401), and in response to receiving a connection request from the smartphone 101, a periodic signal of intermittent communication is received. Transmission / reception is started (S402).

  Thereafter, the AP information request unit 303 determines whether there is data to be transmitted to the server 103 (S403). Here, the data to be transmitted to the server may be, for example, untransmitted image data in the image storage unit 304 or image data designated by the user. When data to be transmitted is generated (YES in S403), the AP information request unit 303 controls the BLE communication unit 302 to transmit an AP information request in the next intermittent communication data packet (S404). Then, the AP information request unit 303 waits for AP information to be received from the smartphone 101 in the subsequent intermittent communication (S405).

  When the AP information request unit 303 receives the AP information, the AP information request unit 303 controls the wireless LAN communication unit 301 to connect to the AP 102 using the connection parameter included in the received AP information, and connects the camera 100 to the AP 102. (S406). Subsequently, the AP information requesting unit 303 controls the wireless LAN communication unit 301 to transmit the data determined to be transmitted in S403 to the server 103 via the AP 102 (S407). Then, when the transmission of the data to be transmitted is completed, the AP information request unit 303 controls the wireless LAN communication unit 301 to disconnect the connection with the AP 102 (S408), so that the data to be transmitted is generated again. Wait (S403).

  Note that the AP information requesting unit 303 does not have to disconnect (S408) the AP immediately after transmitting the data to be transmitted to the server 103 (S407). That is, the AP information requesting unit 303 waits for a predetermined time after transmitting the data to be transmitted to the server 103 (S407), and confirms that there is no additional data to be transmitted to the server. The connection with the AP may be disconnected (S408). On the other hand, if data to be transmitted to the server 103 is generated within the predetermined time, the AP information request unit 303 also transmits the generated data (S407). Thereby, it is possible to prevent unnecessary disconnection and reconnection processing by the wireless LAN. Note that the AP information requesting unit 303 returns the process to S401 when the BLE communication with the smartphone 101 is interrupted in any of the above steps. That is, while the BLE communication is held after transmitting the request for AP information, it can be confirmed that the camera 100 desires to connect to the network unless there is a special cancellation of the request, but it is disconnected. Since it cannot be done, the process is reset.

  If the AP information is not notified even though the camera 100 has maintained the connection for a predetermined time by the BLE communication, the camera 100 temporarily gives up the connection to the network and disconnects the BLE communication. May be. The camera 100 may then establish BLE communication again and request AP information after a certain time has passed. By doing so, it is possible to prevent continuous transmission / reception of signals by BLE in a situation where the camera 100 cannot establish a connection with the AP, and as a result, the power consumption of the camera 100 is reduced. It becomes possible.

(Configuration and operation of smartphone)
Next, a functional configuration example of the smartphone 101 and a flow of processing executed by the smartphone 101 will be described. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the smartphone 101. The smartphone 101 includes, for example, a wireless LAN communication unit 501, a BLE communication unit 502, an AP information acquisition unit 503, and an AP information notification unit 504. Note that functions that are not directly related to the present embodiment, such as a call function, are not shown in FIG.

  The wireless LAN communication unit 501 and the BLE communication unit 502 are the same as the wireless LAN communication unit 301 and the BLE communication unit 302, respectively, and a standard antenna, modulation / demodulation processing function, and protocol processing necessary for wireless LAN communication and BLE communication, respectively. Including functions. The AP information acquisition unit 503 has a standard function necessary for acquiring an AP identifier related to an AP around the smartphone 101 and a connection parameter of one of the APs in the vicinity as described above. . With this function, the AP information acquisition unit 503 receives a request for AP information from the camera 100 and then detects the AP 102 existing in the vicinity and acquires connection parameters for connection to the AP 102. The AP information notification unit 504 performs processing for notifying the camera 100 of AP information acquired by the AP information acquisition unit 503 based on a request for AP information received from the camera 100 via the BLE communication unit 502 as a response to the request. Do. Note that the smartphone 101 has, for example, one or more hardware modules such as a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM (not shown in FIG. 5), and processes the flowcharts described below as a program stored in the ROM. May be processed by executing.

  FIG. 6 shows a flow of processing executed by the AP information notification unit 504 in the smartphone 101 in particular. The AP information notification unit 504 starts the operation with the power supply of the smartphone 101 being turned on or the predetermined application software being activated in the smartphone 101 being a trigger. First, the AP information notification unit 504 waits to receive an advertising packet from the camera 100 using the BLE communication unit 502 (S601). Upon receiving the advertising packet, the AP information notification unit 504 transmits a connection request to the camera 100, and starts periodic packet transmission / reception by intermittent communication by BLE (S602). Next, the AP information notification unit 504 waits to receive a request for AP information from the camera 100 in intermittent communication by BLE (S603).

  When the AP information notification unit 504 receives the request for AP information, the AP information acquisition unit 503 acquires whether the AP 102 exists in the vicinity (for example, the communicable range of the smartphone 101) and its connection parameters. An inquiry is made as to whether it has been made (S604). Note that the AP information acquisition unit 503 determines whether an AP exists around the smartphone 101 by performing a search after receiving a request for AP information from the camera 100, for example. Further, the AP information acquisition unit 503 may determine whether there is an AP around the smartphone 101 according to whether there is a connected AP. Note that, when searching for an AP, the AP information acquisition unit 503 further performs a process of acquiring a connection parameter for connecting to the AP discovered by the search. On the other hand, when there is a connected AP, the AP information acquisition unit 503 only needs to notify the connection parameter used in the connection, and therefore it is not necessary to perform a process of acquiring a new connection parameter.

  When the AP 102 exists in the vicinity and the connection parameter has been acquired (YES in S604), the AP information notification unit 504 transmits the AP information in the next intermittent communication so as to transmit the AP information. Is controlled (S605). Thereafter, the AP information notification unit 504 returns the process to S603 and waits for a request for AP information to be transmitted again. This AP information includes, for example, information indicating that the AP 102 exists in the vicinity at the timing when the AP information is transmitted, and connection parameters for connecting to the AP 102.

  On the other hand, if the AP 102 does not exist in the vicinity or the connection parameter has not been acquired (NO in S604), the AP information notification unit 504 has the AP 102 in the vicinity and the connection parameter is acquired. Wait until Note that the AP information notification unit 504 returns the process to step S601 when the BLE communication with the camera 100 is interrupted regardless of which step is being executed. That is, while the BLE communication is held after receiving the request for the AP information, it can be confirmed that the camera 100 wants to connect to the network unless the request is specifically canceled. Since it cannot be done, the process is reset.

  Here, the format of the AP information transmitted from the smartphone 101 will be described with reference to the example of FIG. In FIG. 7, a data packet 700 is a BLE data packet including AP information. The data packet 700 includes a preamble 701, an access address 702, a PDU (Protocol Data Unit) 703, and a CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) 704. The preamble 701 is used to determine the beginning of a packet. An access address 702 represents communication between the camera 100 and the smartphone 101. CRC 704 is used for error detection and is calculated based on the contents of PDU 703.

  Here, the PDU 703 includes a header 711 and a payload 712, and the header 711 includes information indicating that this packet is a data packet and information indicating the length of the payload 712. When there is no data to be transmitted in intermittent communication, the length is 0, but in a data packet including AP information, the length is a value of 1 or more. The payload 712 includes a data type 721, an AP identifier 722, a security method type 723, and a password 724. The data type 721 stores a value indicating that this data packet includes AP information. In the AP identifier 722, the security method type 723, and the password 724, information on connection parameters of the AP identified by the AP identifier 722 is stored.

  When receiving the data packet, the camera 100 reads the value of the data type 721 to know that the data packet includes the AP information. Therefore, the camera 100 can know the timing at which the AP information is transmitted. That is, the data type 721 is information indicating whether or not the AP specified by the AP identifier 722 exists in the vicinity (communication range) of the smartphone 101 at the timing when this data packet is transmitted.

  According to the BLE communication standard, the header 711 can include information indicating whether or not a data packet follows thereafter. When the size of the connection parameter is large, it is possible to divide these connection parameters into a plurality of data packets and transmit them using this information. Also, the AP information request transmitted by the AP information request unit 303 can be obtained from the camera 100 by setting the value of the data type 721 in the PDU as a value indicating that it is a request for AP information, as in the case described above. It can be transmitted as a data packet to the smartphone 101.

  Note that the above-described data packet format is an example, and the AP information may be transmitted in another format.

(Processing flow of wireless communication system)
Next, the flow of processing executed between the camera 100 and the smartphone 101 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, for example, a case where the user goes out with the camera 100 and the smartphone 101, takes a picture with the camera 100, returns home, and the smartphone 101 connects to the home AP will be described.

  First, at time 801, when the user turns on the smartphone 101, the smartphone 101 waits to receive an advertising packet (S601). Subsequently, when the user turns on the camera 100 at time 802, an advertising packet is transmitted from the camera 100 at time 803 (S402). In response to this advertising packet, the smartphone 101 transmits a connection request at time 804 (S602). Thereby, intermittent communication by BLE starts between the camera 100 and the smartphone 101 (S403, S602), and the smartphone 101 waits for a request for AP information from the camera 100 (S603).

  Thereafter, when the user performs a shooting operation with the camera 100 at time 805, image data to be transmitted by the camera 100 is generated. For this reason, the camera 100 transmits a request for AP information to the smartphone 101 in the intermittent communication at time 806, and enters the AP information reception waiting state (S403 to S405). When the smartphone 101 receives the request for AP information, the smartphone 101 is in a state where the AP exists in a communicable range of the smartphone 101 itself and waits to acquire AP information related to the AP (S604).

  When the user returns home at time 807, when the smartphone 101 is connected to the AP at the user's home by the user's operation or automatically, the AP exists in the vicinity and the connection parameter to the AP is obtained. . Therefore, the smartphone 101 transmits AP information to the camera 100 at time 808 when the next intermittent communication is performed (S605). When the camera 100 receives this AP information, the camera 100 can know that there is an AP that can be connected in the vicinity, and can obtain the connection parameters at the same time. Therefore, the camera 100 connects to the AP corresponding to the AP information notified from the smartphone 101 at time 809, and transmits the captured image to the server on the network via the AP (S406, S407). . Thereafter, when the data transmission is completed, the camera 100 disconnects the connection with the AP (S408).

  As described above, the operations that the user performs on the camera 100 are only the power-on operation at the time 802 and the shooting operation at the time 805. Images can be sent. Incidentally, the connection to the home AP by the smartphone 101 at time 807 is often performed manually or automatically regardless of the presence of the camera 100. Compared with cellular communications, wireless LAN communications are generally faster and cheaper, and services such as telephone calls and data communications can be used almost in the same way as cellular communications. Therefore, in places where APs exist, smartphones give priority to wireless LANs. This is because it is often used for the above. Therefore, in the wireless communication system of the present embodiment, it is possible to connect the camera to the network without performing an operation only for connecting the camera to the wireless LAN, so that convenience for the user is improved. In addition, the camera of this embodiment can be realized simply by adding only the BLE communication function to a general camera, and this does not significantly increase the size and cost compared to the addition of the NFC communication function. .

<< Embodiment 2 >>
In the first embodiment, the example in which the camera 100 transmits a request for AP information for connecting to an arbitrary AP connectable to the network has been described. In the present embodiment, a case where the camera 100 designates a specific AP and requests AP information for the specific AP will be described.

  FIG. 9 shows a functional configuration example of the camera 100 according to the present embodiment. The camera 100 according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as the block diagram of FIG. 3 described in the first embodiment except that an AP identifier setting unit 901 is added. For this reason, the difference from Embodiment 1 is demonstrated below and the description is abbreviate | omitted about the part which has the same function.

  When the AP information requesting unit 303 detects that the AP information is acquired in S406 of FIG. 4, the AP identifier setting unit 901 displays a screen as shown in FIG. 10 based on the AP identifier included in the AP information. And a user interface for accepting operations. In other words, the AP identifier setting unit 901 has a function of presenting a connectable AP to the user and acquiring designation of the AP to be connected from the user. Further, when “Yes” is selected by the user in FIG. 10, the AP identifier setting unit 901 stores the connection parameters included in the AP information. Then, the AP identifier setting unit 901 controls the AP information requesting unit 303 to transmit an AP information request including the AP identifier included in the connection parameter when an AP information request is transmitted in S404 thereafter. To do.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the AP information notification unit 504 of the smartphone 101 in this embodiment. In FIG. 11, the same reference numerals are assigned to the blocks that are processed in the same manner as in FIG. 6, and the description thereof is omitted unless necessary.

  The AP information notification unit 504 waits for reception of a request for AP information by intermittent communication (S603), and then confirms whether the received AP information request includes an AP identifier (S1101). If the AP information request does not include an AP identifier (NO in S1101), the AP information notification unit 504 advances the process to S604 and performs the same process as in the first embodiment. On the other hand, if an AP identifier is included (YES in S1101), the AP information notification unit 504 waits until the AP information acquisition unit 503 detects that an AP having the AP identifier exists in the vicinity (S1102). ). Then, when the AP information acquisition unit 503 detects the AP (YES in S1102), the AP information notification unit 504 advances the processing to S605 and transmits the AP information to the camera 100. In this case, since the AP information about the AP that has been designated by the camera 100 is transmitted, the camera 100 may hold connection parameters for the AP. In this case, that is, when the camera 100 stores the connection parameters related to the detected AP, the smartphone 101 does not have to transmit the connection parameters when transmitting the AP information.

  As described above, the AP information notification unit 504 notifies only the AP information of the AP having the AP identifier designated from the camera 100. That is, the user can connect the camera 100 only to the home AP by storing the home AP information in the camera 100 using the interface of FIG. As a result, uploading from the camera 100 to the server can be performed from a home AP whose connection state is relatively stable. Therefore, there is a probability that uploading will fail due to connection to an unstable AP while moving outdoors. Can be reduced.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, it has been described that a request for AP information can be transmitted in the form of a data packet including a data type 721 having a predetermined value in a PDU. However, according to the BLE communication standard, a request for AP information can be included in the PDU of the advertising packet in the same format. Therefore, the AP information request may be transmitted in an advertising packet instead of a data packet. Further, when BLE communication is not used between the camera 100 and the smartphone 101 for other purposes, an AP information request is transmitted by transmitting an advertising packet that does not have the data type 721 in the PDU. May be considered. In any of these cases, the smartphone 101 can be regarded as having received a request for AP information in response to receiving an advertising packet.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the AP information notification unit 504 waits for the user information or the AP information acquisition unit 503 to acquire the AP information automatically in S604 of FIG. In place of this process, the AP information notification unit 504 may request the AP information acquisition unit 503 to perform a passive scan when an AP information request is received through intermittent communication in S603. Thus, when there is an AP that can be connected to the periphery when the user takes a picture, it is possible to connect the camera to the AP immediately after taking the picture and upload the shot image to the server.

  Furthermore, in the camera 100, when the BLE communication unit 302 is implemented as an independent communication module, the AP information request unit 303 shifts to the sleep state after transmitting the AP information request in S404 of FIG. May be. Note that the camera 100 may shift not only the AP information request unit 303 but also the functions of some cameras 100 other than the BLE communication unit 302 to the sleep state after transmitting the AP information request. That is, some independent communication modules output an interrupt signal when a non-empty data packet is received. By using this interrupt signal as a wake-up signal, the power consumption of the camera 100 is reduced during the period from when the AP information request is transmitted at time 806 in FIG. 8 until the AP information is received at time 808. be able to. Thereby, the frequency with which the user charges the battery of the camera can be reduced, and convenience can be improved.

<< Other Embodiments >>
The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program This process can be realized. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

  301: Wireless LAN communication unit 302: BLE communication unit 303: AP information request unit 501: Wireless LAN communication unit 502: BLE communication unit 503: AP information acquisition unit 504: AP information notification unit

Claims (22)

A communication system including a first communication device and a second communication device,
The first communication device is:
Communication that transmits a signal requesting information for connection to a network to the second communication device, and receives information for connection from the second communication device to another communication device that can connect to the network Means,
Connection means for connecting to the other communication device based on the information and connecting to the network via the other communication device;
Have
The second communication device is:
Receiving means for receiving the signal from the first communication device;
Determining means for determining whether the other communication device is within a communicable range in response to receiving the signal;
A notification means for notifying the first communication device of information for connecting to the other communication device when it is determined that the other communication device is within the communicable range;
A communication system comprising: The communication means communicates with the second communication device using a communication method different from the communication method used for connecting to the other communication device with the connection means.
The communication system according to claim 1. The communication means performs communication with the second communication device by a communication method for periodically transmitting and receiving signals.
The communication system according to claim 2. The notifying means transmits a signal including information indicating whether or not the other communication device exists in the communicable range to the first communication device by transmitting and receiving the periodic signal;
The communication system according to claim 3. The notifying means transmits the signal indicating that the other communication device exists in the communicable range to the first communication device by transmitting and receiving the periodic signal to the other communication device. Information for connection is included in the signal and notified to the first communication device;
The communication system according to claim 4. The accepting unit transmits a signal transmitted from the first communication device for establishing a connection between the first communication device and the second communication device from a network from the first communication device. Accept as the signal to request information for connecting to
The communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: The determination means determines whether or not the other communication device exists in the communicable range by determining whether or not the second communication device is connected to the other communication device.
The communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: Whether the other communication device exists in the communicable range by performing a search after the determination unit accepts the information as a request for information for connecting to the network from the first communication device. Determine
The communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The first communication device further includes acquisition means for acquiring a designation of a communication device to be connected from a user of the first communication device.
The communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The first communication device further includes a storage unit that stores information indicating the other communication device with respect to the other communication device that has acquired the designation as the communication device to be connected by the acquisition unit;
The communication means transmits the other communication device stored in the storage means to the second communication device as information indicating a communication device to be connected,
The notification means notifies the first communication device of information for connecting to the communication device to be connected when it is determined that the communication device to be connected exists in the communicable range;
The communication system according to claim 9. The storage means is further connected to the other communication apparatus when the acquisition means is connected to the other communication apparatus that has acquired the designation as the communication apparatus to be connected. Remember the parameters to connect to the communication device,
The notification means is the case where the parameter is stored in the storage means, and when it is determined that the other communication device exists within the communicable range, the other communication device can communicate with the communication device. A signal indicating that it exists in a certain range is notified as information for connecting to the other communication device, and the parameter is not notified,
The communication system according to claim 10. The information for connecting to the other communication device includes a parameter for connecting to the other communication device.
The communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein: The parameter includes information for identifying the other communication device or information for identifying a wireless network formed by the other communication device, the type of security method used by the other communication device, and the security method. Including at least one of passwords for connecting to other communication devices,
The communication system according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that: The communication means transmits a signal requesting information for connection to the network to the second communication device when there is data to be transmitted to the network;
The communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein: The first communication device shifts a part of the function of the first communication device to a sleep state after transmitting a signal for requesting information for the communication means to connect to the network.
The communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein: The first communication device notifies the second communication device that the second communication device determines that the other communication device is within the communicable range, and provides information for connecting to the other communication device, Activating the function that has shifted to the sleep state in response to reception by the communication means,
The communication system according to claim 15. The other communication device is a wireless LAN access point, and the first communication device and the second communication device are wireless LAN terminals.
The communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein: The communication means communicates using Bluetooth Low Energy, and the connection means connects to the other communication apparatus using a wireless LAN based on the IEEE 802.11 standard.
The communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that: Accepting means for accepting a signal transmitted from the first other communication device for requesting information for connecting to the network;
A determination unit that determines whether a second other communication device that can be connected to the network exists in a communicable range in response to receiving the signal;
When it is determined that the second other communication device is within the communicable range, notification for notifying the first other communication device of information for connecting to the second other communication device Means,
A communication apparatus comprising: A communication method of a communication system including a first communication device and a second communication device,
The first communication device transmitting a signal requesting information for connecting to the network to the second communication device;
The second communication device accepting the signal from the first communication device;
Determining whether another communication device that can be connected to the network is within a communicable range of the second communication device in response to the second communication device receiving the signal; ,
A step of notifying the first communication device of information for connecting to the other communication device, when the second communication device determines that the other communication device is within the communicable range; When,
The first communication device receiving information for connecting to the other communication device from the second communication device;
Connecting the first communication device to the other communication device based on the information and connecting to the network via the other communication device;
A communication method characterized by comprising: A communication device control method comprising:
An accepting step for accepting a signal for requesting information for connecting to the network transmitted from the first other communication device;
A determination step of determining whether a second other communication device that can be connected to the network exists in a communicable range in response to the determination unit receiving the signal;
When the notification means determines that the second other communication device is within the communicable range, information for connecting to the second other communication device is used as the first other communication device. A notification process to notify
A control method characterized by comprising:   The program for making the computer with which the communication apparatus was provided perform each process of the control method of Claim 21.

Images